10 best vehicles for the end of the world

Nuclear winter. Worldwide economic collapse. Zombie takeover. We all have a favorite apocalyptic situation that we occasionally find ourselves pondering. One very important question: What vehicle do you want as your trusty steed?

Sure, the Hummer-dwarfing Marauder starts at around half a million dollars. But for your megabucks you get a fully functional roving fortress. With room for a crew of two up front, plus eight in the back (in standard configuration), the Marauder is designed to withstand impact from mines or IEDs. It even took a C4 charge to its undercarriage in an infamous TV segment, so it's tough enough to survive the end of days. The Marauder is the perfect choice for those who fear coming under attack by the armies of the undead, as it can be fitted with a turret up top and has options for extra armor or provision capacity. The thing drinks gasoline, but if you can afford the Marauder, you can afford to keep it in gas in a dystopian wasteland.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

Sure, the Hummer-dwarfing Marauder starts at around half a million...

Sure, the Hummer-dwarfing Marauder starts at around half a million... Photo-3840865.53372 - SFGate

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We hear you snickering. Any excuse to choose a 911, right? Well, yes. But name one car with the combination of legendary performance and handling that you'd willingly drive in all conditions if your life depended on it. That's what we thought. When the apes rise up against us and the revolution is in full swing, we're going to want to be able to get out of town in a hurry, and with more reliability than the average one-percenter's hypercar is designed to provide. Hop into a 911, point it where you need to go, and mash the pedal on the right. Just hope that your primate pursuers don't opt for the Porsche as well.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

We hear you snickering. Any excuse to choose a 911, right? Well,...

We hear you snickering. Any excuse to choose a 911, right? Well,... Photo-3840873.53372 - SFGate

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When it all goes down, what we really want is to be behind the wheel of one of these bad boys. The Rally Fighter is made to get you out of just about anywhere in a hurry; with its adjustable suspension it can adapt to city or rural environments. Plus, if you buy one in the next 20 minutes, while civilization is still up and running, Local Motors can help you design almost any customizations for your Rally Fighter. Consider installing a rear deck to hold canned food and extra ammo. That said, the Rally Fighter isn't made to haul goods; it's made to tear through the wilderness faster than anything can chase you. Give us the keys and let the chase begin.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

When it all goes down, what we really want is to be behind the...

When it all goes down, what we really want is to be behind the... Photo-3840878.53372 - SFGate

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The modern American power wagon exemplar. The Roadmaster not only gives you that 5.7-liter V-8 for (eventually) quick escapes, but also has the advantage of rear-facing back-row seats with a hatch window that flips up. Being able to cover your "six" while traveling will be a luxury some day when the oceans overflow and threaten all of our urban centers; skilled tinkerers will find a way to unfix the Roadmaster's sunroof for even greater defensive coverage. The "wood" trim is pretty stylish too.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

The modern American power wagon exemplar. The Roadmaster not only...

The modern American power wagon exemplar. The Roadmaster not only... Photo-3840872.53372 - SFGate

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Predictable? Perhaps. But the classic American off-roader can't be left off the list. For the survivor on the run who wants access to remote locations and isn't scared of a little dirt, the Wrangler can be a lifesaver. Whether it's traversing rocky terrain or tackling grades so steep that no rational person should even attempt them, the Wrangler is made for the post-apocalyptic world. If possible, though, try to acquire a hardtop Wrangler. We assume things that go bump in the night could probably tear through the traditional soft-top.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

Predictable? Perhaps. But the classic American off-roader can't be...

Predictable? Perhaps. But the classic American off-roader... Photo-3840874.53372 - SFGate

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How could the rally-inspired Impreza not make the list? Subaru even went so far as to declare the WRX the "official vehicle" of the zombie apocalypse. Now, we think that's just being presumptuous, but the WRX's all-wheel-drive platform is competition-tested and can make quick getaways through varying weather and terrain conditions. We say: Give us a box of jerky, a baseball bat, some bottled water, and a WRX, and bring out your undead!

Photo: Popular Merchanics

How could the rally-inspired Impreza not make the list? Subaru even...

How could the rally-inspired Impreza not make the list? Subaru... Photo-3840870.53372 - SFGate

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No, there isn't much practicality in a vehicle that will barely accommodate its driver, let alone any supplies or passengers. But hear us out. In the event of some cataclysm, do you want to place your bets on the creaking electrical grid staying up and running? And how long do you think it will be before the gas starts running out? In a world where conventional engines have no fuel to burn, the solar car shall be king, and the slowest solar car must be quicker than the fastest zombie. Right?

Photo: Popular Merchanics

No, there isn't much practicality in a vehicle that will barely...

No, there isn't much practicality in a vehicle that will... Photo-3840868.53372 - SFGate

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Once service stations have become ghostly ruins and your local mechanic has joined the walking dead, reliability will be the name of the game. And the 1990s Grand Cherokee was hard to kill—ask anyone who has ever owned one. It wasn't particularly pretty or aerodynamic or quick, but the Grand was all kinds of tough. For well under $10,000 (and in many cases under $5000) you can grab one of these gems from the 1993 to 1998 model years. The ZJ is a cheap four-wheel-drive option that is easy to service and for which you'll have no trouble finding spare parts, as they are absolutely everywhere. They may not have the bulky, intimidating looks of the military-derived SUVs, but the Grand Cherokee will be there for you and treat you as well as you treat it. Scratch that—it'll treat you far better than you treat it.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

Once service stations have become ghostly ruins and your local...

Once service stations have become ghostly ruins and your local... Photo-3840866.53372 - SFGate

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If you find yourself overseas when the bomb goes off or the dead rise to feast on the living, buy the first Hilux you can lay your eyes on. The 1984 to 1989 model-year Toyotas (sold under the supremely uncreative moniker of Pickup here in the U.S.) have proved to be some of the most willful runners ever made. When people rise up and dictators fall, the Hilux is there. Pay attention to news footage of war zones the world over—the Hilux is the field horse of the 20th and now the 21st centuries. This is especially true on the African continent; the fourth-generation Hilux was manufactured in South Africa until 1997, meaning there are plenty to go around, so you can get cheap, reliable transport with parts galore. If you can find a 1986 or later, snag a four-wheel-drive model with the transfer case. You never know.

Photo: Popular Merchanics

If you find yourself overseas when the bomb goes off or the dead...

If you find yourself overseas when the bomb goes off or the dead... Photo-3840867.53372 - SFGate

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Yes, the venerable Microbus, or Kombi. Whatever you call it, it's a great way to ride through the end of the world in style. The Microbus won't lead you out of any chase unscathed, and even the late-1980s models had frightening handling. But the trusty old bus isn't without its charms or advantages. If you're handy with a skillet, for example, you could travel from ghost town to ghost town, becoming a roving food truck cooking hot meals for those with the ingredients (and tradable goods) but not the means. A man could live a good life that way. Not that we've daydreamed about that, of course.